At least 18 die in Gaza in tank shelling

Wednesday, November 08, 2006 |
by Staff Writer

One day after Operation Autumn Clouds, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operation in the Gaza Strip, at least 18 people were killed and more than 30 wounded when tank shells rained down on the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanoun in the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian security officials said that five tank shells landed in the area within 15 minutes.

The IDF said it fired rounds at Kassam launching sites and in open areas and not directly at the Beit Hanoun district. Yet, the army said it was checking whether some of the shells misfired.

Defense Minister Amir Peretz instructed the IDF to expedite the probe into the firing.

A Kassam rocket was later fired from the Gaza Strip into open area in Israel. There were no injuries or damages reported.

Palestinians have been demonstrating and are threatening a vile payback.

“We are going to fight against the so-called Israel. We are going to launch our rockets, our martyrs are going to sacrifice their lives in the depths of our occupied land,” said Nizar Rayan, a Hamas leader in northern Gaza. “They will strike in Jaffa, in Haifa, inside Ashdod. The battle will continue. The rifle is not going to be set down. All of us are martyrs in waiting, revenge is coming.”

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